V2X Technology

DENSO International America, Inc.

U.S. Deployment

Right now the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is testing connected vehicle technology and will decide if it will mandate this technology on new passenger vehicles in late 2013. A separate decision pertaining to heavy trucks is expected in 2014.

The Technology and How it Works

Globally, DENSO has been working on V2X technology since 2003, with our main focus on dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) devices. These are the units that talk with other vehicles and roadside “hotspots,” like traffic signals.

DSRC devices use two-way, short-range wireless communication – similar to WiFi – to allow data exchanges with other DSRC transceivers. They communicate a car’s location, velocity, acceleration and path history to help reduce accidents, ease congestion and save gas.

Along with the DSRC unit, we use GPS positioning to allow vehicles to “see” beyond the line of sight. This is one key differentiator between active safety technologies and sensors, like radar, lidar and camera.

We believe V2X, paired with active safety technologies and the right human machine interfaces, will make autonomous vehicles a reality in the future.

Revolutionizing Safety on Our Roads

Each year, traffic crashes kill tens of thousands of people on U.S. roads. V2X has the potential to reduce that number to ZERO.

360 Degree Situational Awareness

The more vehicles equipped with DSRC devices, the more effective the technology. When all vehicles have V2X, the technology can give drivers a 360-degree situational awareness and could help eliminate accidents altogether.

Immediate Benefits

As for short-term safety benefits, this technology can help prevent crashes and alert, drivers to take precautions to avoid the following crash scenarios:

Vehicles running a red light (blind intersection)

Stopped vehicles ahead (forward collision)

Blind spots and lane changes (blocked field of view)

Oncoming vehicles (do not pass)

Slick roads (control loss)

More Green Lights and a Greener Ride

V2X can also help us see more of those green lights we like, save us gas and put less drag on the environment. The technology can give in-vehicle systems information on traffic signal timing to optimize fuel and time-saving driving habits.

The DSRC is able to “talk” with the signal to:

Tell drivers how many seconds are left while at a red light

Advise drivers of safe vehicle speeds to reach an intersection while a light is green

Even switch the timing of lights, based on traffic flow, to provide smoother and greener travel

In the pilot nearly 3,000 cars, trucks and buses are equipped with V2X, allowing vehicles and infrastructure to “talk” to each other in real time to help avoid crashes and improve traffic flow.

DENSO’s involvement:

An integrated original equipment device used on light vehicles

And an aftermarket retrofit device equipped on light vehicles, heavy trucks and buses.

Right now DENSO can demonstrate DSRC-equipped vehicles to show how the vehicle can communicate with traffic signals on Telegraph Road in Southfield, Mich. - right outside our North American regional headquarters. Similar DSRC test beds also exist in California, New York, Florida, Virginia and Tennessee.

Other Global Test Beds

DENSO has been conducting field tests around the world for years, and we continue to research, develop and demonstrate V2X technology.

Asia

In Japan, DENSO has a track to test V2X communication performance on simulated urban roads

We’re testing V2X technology on roads in China, too. After first field testing use of V2X technology to give right of way to emergency vehicles and to help prevent vehicle collisions, we are now collaborating with Tongji University to focus on improving the traffic flow of public buses while improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions.

Europe

In Vienna at the 2012 ITS World Congress, the USDOT and European Commission used identical DENSO V2X hardware and similar software to show how a single V2X technology is viable across two continents.

We have been testing V2X technology in Germany and other European countries, in part with a Car2Car communication consortium of vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and academic institutions.

We’re also involved with an ITS Europe Drive C2X project running field operational tests in various European locations.

Global development continues as European manufacturers, suppliers and others have signed a memorandum of understanding pledging a common approach to V2X standards and deployment. Countries are working together to advance V2X technology and application.

Technology Development Continues

V2X technology has the potential to improve vehicle safety, fuel efficiency and emissions. We anticipate U.S. deployment of the technology in the next few years, and continue our work toward having both DSRC devices within new vehicles AND providing retrofit options for vehicles already on the road.